Exposition of Romans 13-16, Exposition of Romans · Chapter 2 · Verse 15
VERSE 15. — Deſtroy not him with thy meat, for whom Chriſt dyed.
THe Apoſtle here proues by another Argument, that ſcandall is contrary to charitie, namely by another effect of it. Thus:
That which deſtroyes our brother is contrary to charity.
But to giuegive ſcandall deſtroyes him.
Therefore, &c.
This Argument is ſet downe in the manner of a prohibition. Where we hauehave the thing prohibited, to deſtroy our brother: And the Illuſtration.
In the thing prohibited is the action, to deſtroy: the obiect, him, that is, our brother.
Both theſe are illuſtrated: the action, from the inſtrument of deſtruction, with thy meat: The obiect, from his dignitie, which is, that he is beloued of Chriſt; declared by an infallible token of ſuch louelove, he dyed for him.
Deſtroy not. The word ſignifies totall deſtruction. It is no light loſſe that comes to our brother by giuing offence, but euen the loſſe of body and ſoule. Not that eueryevery one who is ſcandalized is ſo loſt: but that ſcandall is apt ſo to doe, and where it is taken, without the mercy of God bringeth forth ſuch effect.
Such a deſtruction is here meant which came to Iudas, Iohn 17.12. 2 Theſſ. 2.3.which ſhall come to Antichriſt, who are both called the ſonnes of perdition, from this word.
Such a deſtruction as wicked men ſhall hauehave at the day of Iudgement, 2 Pet. 3.7.which is therefore called the day of perdition of vngodly men.
Such a deſtruction which the deuill endeuours to bring vponupon vsus, foreign. Reuel. 9.11.who is therefore called Apollyon, the deſtroyer.
So that here is an Auxeſis, ſcandall, not onelyonly grieues, but deſtroies our brother.
Him: the ſtrong, ſaith Ambroſe, who by the abſtinence of the weake, beginnes to doubt of his liberty; as diuers at this day among vsus, doubtleſſe, hauehave by the ſcrupulouſneſſe of ſome, begunne to ſtagger at ſuch things, whereof before they hauehave beene well perſwaded.
But it is rather meant of the weake: deſtroy not him, that is, Aretius.thy weake brother: he ſaith not brother, but him, though that terme be vſed before and after; becauſe, deſinit eſſe frater cum pergas occidere, ſaith one: He ceaſeth to be thy brother, when thou goeſt about to deſtroy him.
With thy meat: Meat is the inſtrument of this deſtruction, not a Sword, or Piſtoll: and ſo ſurely many periſh through riotous eating and drinking; but he meanes here, by vſing our liberty in eating of all things, without the reſpect of our weake brother, who is in danger of destruction thereby three wayes.
1 In regard of a paſſiue ſcandall through raſh iudgement.
2 By being in danger of eating againſt conſcience, by the example of the ſtrong, which brings ſhipwracke of faith.
3 From the danger of Apoſtaſie and alienation from the faith.
For whom Chriſt died. For him, for whom Chriſt died, wee ſhould be carefull and eſteeme him aboue our meat, apparell, or any indifferent thing: here a compariſon being as interpreters obſerue, betweene our meat, and our brother redeemed by the death of Chriſt.
Scandall is apt to deſtroy our Brother, Doctr. 1. Cor. 8.11. And through thy knowledge ſhall thy weake brother periſh, for whom Chriſt died. And verſe 20. of this Chapter. For meat deſtroy not the worke of God.
Can any of them be deſtroyed for whom Chriſt dyed? Queſt.
If we conſider the counſell and decree of God, Anſw. and the promiſe of ſaluation vntounto them, they cannot: But diuide and ſeparate them from theſe, and then they may in regard of their owne infirmity, of the malice of Satan, and of the innumerable offences which are giuen, which they were neuer able to outſtand if they were left to themſelues.
Here is a comfort for the weake: Chriſt dyed for them. Ʋſe 1 Though thou haſt not ſo ſtrong a faith as Abraham, ſo much patience as Iob, &c. yet if thou haſt a true faith, though ſmall; and ſtriueſt againſt corruption, though weakly, thou art to be reputed one belonging to Chriſt, and ſhalt hauehave benefit by his death.
Here is a threefold admonition. Vſe 2
1 To the ſtrong, that out of their indulgence to their weak brethren, they ſhould abſtaine from the vſe of their liberty in things indifferent. They are their Brethren, Charity requires it, and Chriſt alſo who dyed for them: and not ſo to doe, Paul elſewhere calleth ſinning againſt Chriſt.1 Cor. 8.12.
Thy meat or apparell are thine, but thy brother is Chriſts: he came to ſaue thy brother, wilt thou goe about to deſtroy him? that were in ſome ſort to bean Antichriſt.
Chriſt did that which was hard, he parted with his bloud and life for thy brother: what madneſſe is it, if wee will not doe that which is eaſie, as to refraine ſome diſh of meate, or ſome colour or faſhion of garment, for our brothers, nay for Chriſts ſake.
2 To the weake, that they ſhould beware how they take offence at the liberty of their brethren: for hereby they are in danger to be deſtroyed. Note. But no man periſheth but for his owne ſinne, It is a rule, Aquinas in loc.Scandalum paſſiuum non eſt ſine peceato ſcandalizati: A paſſiue ſcandall is not without the ſinne of him that is ſcandalized: but it may be without the ſinne of the ſcandalizing. As firſt, if hee doe an indifferent thing by the commandement of the Church or Magiſtrate. Secondly, if he doe it, not knowing, nor being able vponupon any probability to ſuſpect that any would be offended at his liberty. Now in theſe caſes to be offended is a ſinne: and ſinne hath a deſtroying nature.
Doe then as thou pleaſeſt in indifferent things, whoſe vſe is not determined by authoritie; but leaue thy brother to his liberty, and iudge him not. He may vſe his liberty and not ſinne, but thou canſt not bee offended at it, but thou muſt needs ſinne.
Men ſpeake of tenderneſſe of conſcience and grace, but it is a ſigne of neyther, to finde fault and be offended at that which wee cannot ſoundly proue to be vnlawfull by Gods word.
3 To all men. That they hauehave a care of the ſaluation of their brethren; alſo of their owne.
GiueGive no ill example: entiſe no man to theft, drunkennes, vncleanneſſe, to lye, to forſweare themſelues, or to any ſin; for this is to play the Diuell, and to oppoſe Chriſt in the worke of mans ſaluation.
Chriſt dyed for thee; hauehave a care of thy owne ſoule for which Chriſt dyed, and damne not thy ſelfe by thy ſinnes.